Unit5 research project

Unit 5 Research Project

Worthing College Sports ScienceCatriona Phillips

2015

Assessment Criteria Pages 3-17 & 27-38

• P2: carry out sport science or exercise science-based research

• P3: collect and record data from the research project conducted

• M2: correctly analyse collected data, describing techniques used

• D1: correctly analyse data, explaining techniques used

• P4: produce a full research report using a standard scientific structure

Research into the reasons for female drop out of sport and

physical activity post 16.

P2: Carry out / P4: Produce

Abstract

The aim of this research was to identify the main reasons for the post 16 female drop out from physical activity. This research will then aid schools/colleges or other organisations that are providers of female sport.The data was collected through primary research- a survey that I created. The information I used to create this survey was secondary research by using existing research for the reasons that I used in the survey. I selected 20 of the most commonly occurring reasons in the research.My research found that the top three reasons for a drop out were; not enough time, body image and “I’m not good at sports”.My findings show that there is a higher percentage of girls who don’t take part in as much exercise as they did at GCSE level.


Contents: General3- tittle page4- abstract5- general contents page6- appendices contents page7- figures and tables contents page8- acknowledgements9- introduction 10-literature review11- hypotheses12-method13- data collection14-data analysis15-results16- discussion17- conclusion19-21- review22-26-further recommendationsP2: Carry out / P4: Produce

Contents: Appendices

27- Sport England research.28- daughters of Islam article.


Contents: Figures and Tables

31- Age pie chart32- Ethnicity33- participation rates34- reasons35- still participating amounts of exercise.36-trends in 16 year olds37-trends in 17 year olds38-trends in 18 year olds39-trends in 19 year olds


Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Paul Cox and my class mates for the help they have given me during this project. I would also like to thank all the people who took the time to complete the survey for me.


Introduction

Here you need to introduce your project. What is the aim? By the end of my research project I aIm to have identified the main reasons for female drop out from sport and physical education.Why did you choose the aim? I chose my aim because it is something that interests me. I am interested in this because I think its an issue that a lot of girls encounter when taking part in sport and physical activity at many levels from school PE to high level sport. There are far higher amount of girls that drop out from sport and physical activity than boys so I wanted to find out the reasons for this.What was the project timescale? Mid-January for preliminary research- march 27th final report.


Literature Review and References

https://worthingsportscience.wordpress.com/2015/02/27/unit-5-literary-review-catriona-phillips/





Project Hypothesis

What is your project hypothesis (or hypotheses)?

If I research the reasons for drop out from sport I predict that the reasons that will come up most are other commitments and body image.


MethodYour method should include detailed instructions. What you are going to do, how are you going to do it, who is going to do it and when key actions will be completed.In order to collect my information I need to produce a online and offline survey. This needs to be clear and easy to follow for the participants. I will use survey monkey online and then use a screenshot of this survey as the hard copy. The survey will ask the participant to select the three most relevant reasons for their decline in participation if they had in fact reduced the amount of exercise they had taken part in at GCSE level. The data I will collect will be mostly quantitative data so I will be able to create easily readable charts and tables using numbers. I will be able to draw conclusions also from the qualitative data that some people will give in response.I will need to get a large sample size so will be using social media to spread the survey. I will be emailing schools also to get as many participants as possible. I will also be handing out the paper surveys around college. For this I will attempt to be wearing normal clothes instead of sports kit so that my attire doesn’t affect the responses I am given.P3: Collect and record / M2: Correctly analyse & describe techniques / D1: Correctly analyse & explain techniques

Data Collection

To collect my data I will use a survey I have designed on survey monkey as well as a paper version of the same survey. I will be collecting primary data from desk based research.The data is quantitative with some of the questions having the option of including qualitative data if there answer isn’t there. The paper surveys will be handed out around college for this I need to make sure that I am wearing neutral clothing so that it doesn’t have an impact on the answers given. I also need to say the same thing before giving the questionnaires out so that it is the same set up for each participant so that what I say doesn’t influence the results. The online survey will collect data from other places and colleges. This means the data is more reliable as it comes from a wider area.

P3: Collect and record / M2: Correctly analyse & describe techniques / D1: Correctly analyse & explain techniques

Data AnalysisI will be using bar graphs to present the data so that it is easy to read and draw conclusions from. I’m predicting there will be two or three reasons with much higher responses than the others a bar graph will be able to make this obvious. I will write the qualitative data up and include the most frequently occurring. I will also write these into my results as things that hadn’t come up as the most frequent things in the previous research(see appendix 1&2) that I used as the basis of mine. From this I have looked at the five tables of data and also looked at the individual responses on survey monkey and have found that as predicted there were a few responses much more frequently occurring. The top three were Body image(37.7%) Not enough time(32.79%) and “I’m not good at sport”(31.15%). From this I have now explored the trends in the different age groups. The trends vary slightly as the age group changes. Within the 16 year old age group (15 respondents) the majority (60%) said that yes they still participated in the same amount of exercise as they had at KS 3/4. Of those that said they didn’t however the top two reasons given were school work and body image both 50%(see figures and tables 6).In the seventeen year old category there were 33 respondents. Within this age group there as a split of 41% yes and 59% no when asked whether they participated in the same amount of exercise as they used to. In this category the reasons given were work/job and “I’m not good at sport” these were both at 33.33%. (see figures and tables 7)In the eighteen year old category there were 36 respondents. In this age group there was a 34% yes and a 66% no when asked whether they completed the same amount of exercise as they used to. In this category the main reasons given were body image 44.4% and not enough time 37%(see figures and tables 8).In the nineteen plus category there were 9 responses. There was a 33% yes and 67% no when asked whether they completed the same amount of exercise as they used to. The main reasons given were opportunities 43% and body image 29%( see figures and tables 9)


ResultsThe responses to my research came mostly from 17 and 18 year olds with a small percentages from the other two groups. (see tables and figures 1). The responses came from a variety of places but mostly from Worthing College (my current college) and Maiden Erlegh (my previous school). The most common ethnicity to answer was white (see tables and figures 2). This may have an effect on the result however the respondents of the other ethnic groups followed the same the pattern. The responses were 41.30% yes and 58.70% no for a reduction in participation in sport (see tables and figures 3). As well as the data from the individual groups(see page before). From the no responses the most common response was “body image” followed by “not enough time” (see tables and figures 4) this was slightly different to what I predicted in my hypothesis. However not completely unpredicted and not unrelated to my hypothesis. The results from the individual age groups showed that there was a decline in participation over this small age category. I had not included this in my hypothesis but it is an interesting thing to have found. Of the 16 year olds still participating in sport 100% of them said it met the minimum recommendations set by the government where as in the 19 year old category only 60% said it did.The reasons given by the 19+ category were also interesting as the main one was opportunities. I fould this interesting as this age group would mean that the respondents are no longer part of junior sport (under 18) it may also mean they have to pay more for things like gym membership and non competitive sport activities. This may make it harder to take part in.


DiscussionI found that body image, not enough time and “I’m not good at sport” where the most common reasons given for a reduction in participation rates in exercise. In my hypothesis I stated that I predicted that body image and other commitments would be the most common answers given. This means my hypothesis was half correct. Not enough time coming up as a common answer isn't unexpected as it links to having other commitments. “I’m not good at sport” as a reason was more surprising. The research was looking into physical activity so this includes things like going to the gym. This is why it is surprising that this has come up as a main reason for people not taking part in any form of exercise. This is something that campaigns such as This Girl Can address and aim to change.In all four age groups that the research looked at body image was given in the top two reasons for stopping exercise. This is something that needs to be addressed. It needs to change in order for young girl to feel confident in who they are.


ConclusionTo identify the main reasons that cause a post 16 drop out from physical activity among girls.The trends that appeared most often within the prior research I conducted were body image and other commitments being the reasons for the drop out. I based my hypothesis on this. However I also found that “I’m not good at sport” appeared higher than other commitments. This was interesting as the research was looking at physical activity not specifically sport. So it appearing as a reason for not taking part in physical activity could be an interesting follow up set of interviews to identify why this has become a preventative issue for many girls. There continues to be a drop off in participation across the four years and also the reasons alter as the age gets higher. The reasons given at the lower end are school work where as the older end is opportunities. Body image however is given in all four age groups as a reason.


Assessment Criteria Pages 19-26

• P5: carry out a review of the research project conducted, describing strengths, areas for improvement and future recommendations.

• M3: carry out a review of the research project, explaining strengths, areas for improvement and future recommendations.

• D2: carry out a review of the research project, justifying future recommendations for further research.

Review (1/3)How well did project conclusions meet project aims? The conclusion met my aims as it identified the main reasons. There is a link between my results and my hypothesis. I found that there is also a drop off in participation across the four age groups and found that the reasons given were different across all four. By using bar graphs and pie charts to display my data it is easy to analyse and draw conclusions from which was included in my aim regarding data analysis. I wanted to present it in such a manor that anyone could read it, draw conclusions and use the data. It also gave possible further research in the form of interviews or further questionnaires. It would be interesting to see whether there is as much of a decline in participation rates from the 19+ group had I included university students. These reasons may enable schools, colleges and sports clubs to target their advertising appropriately and create the appropriate opportunities for girls in these age categories to participate in. My survey was conducted well and was easy to understand for participants which is what I aimed to do.

P5: Describe / M3: Explain / D2: Justify

Review (2/3)What were the strengths of the research project? The large number of responses (93). This meant the research and the results were more valid as they showed a wider population. The use of social media to spread the survey also lead to the survey being answered from many different parts of the country- I had responses from Aberdeen and Bath well as from the Worthing Area. This means that the data I have collected can be used to bass further research or schemes to increase participation across the country as the results will be relevant in many parts of the country.Another strength of my research is they data being able to lead onto further research across many related but different areas. For example it could lead to research into different ethnic groups, different age groups and could explore further the reasons given as responses in interviews or discussion groups.These being strengths means that my research is valid and reliable. It also means that it can be used as a base of other peoples research in the future.


Review (3/3)What were the areas for improvement of the research project? I would have had a longer time frame in order to collect more data. I would also have used a different online survey website that gives access to more responses and more analysis features for free. This would of have made the research easier and the data analysis would have been able to go into greater depth and looked at even smaller groups who answered the survey. I could also have included a question to find out how much exercise they participated in during key stage 3/4. this would enable me to look at how many of the respondents have stopped participating in exercise because it is no longer mandatory and how many of them have stopped having come from really active backgrounds.I would have also increased my sample size. Although I had a reasonably sized sample if I could have had a larger sample it would have made the research more valid and reliable.


Future Recommendations (1/5)

If the project was to be completed again what would you change and why? I would have used a different website to collect the data so that I can access all the features, the free version of survey monkey limits the data analysis you can do and also limits the number of responses to 100. I collected fewer responses than 100 however if I had received more than this I wouldn’t have been able to analyse the data in one group.

P4: Produce / P5: Describe / M3: Explain / D2: Justify

Future Recommendations (2/5)

What would be the benefits of the proposed changes stated on the previous page? If I was able to collect and analyse a higher number of responses I would be able to have a more detailed, wider and more accurate set of results. The results would have been more accurate and showed a wider section of the sample.


Future Recommendations (3/5)State a proposal for further research (in total three proposals are needed and this is number one of three) For further research I would ask participants to rate the reasons for their drop out from one to three so I can see which comes up as most relevant. This would mean that I could see what people felt was the main reason for them stopping as apposed to the most frequently occurring, for example body image came up as the most common reason given but it could have been all the respondents third choice as apposed to their first. This would give me results that are more accurate and clearer reasons for people using my research. This may also result in different things coming out top as they might feel that while one thing is a factor in stopping or reducing exercise it isn't the main one so they could rank it third.


Future Recommendations (4/5)State a proposal for further research (in total three proposals are needed and this is number two of three)I would conduct interviews after they had indicated a reduction in activity. This would mean I would have more qualitative data to work with when writing things up. I would be looking specifically at the group who answered “I’m not good at sports” as this was the unexpected response that came out very highly. But also as it would be interesting to see why this has affected their participation in any form of exercising. From these interviews I could find out what things they would like available for them to participate in. I would talk to the respondents that said that they are participating in the same amount of exercise before to establish if they have the same issues as those who have stopped and if yes what has driven them to keep up with exercise.


Future Recommendations (5/5)State a proposal for further research (in total three proposals are needed and this is number three of three)I would have done the research over a longer period of time so that I could have collected more data. This would have meant I could have got a larger number of respondents and this would have made the data more valid. I would also then have been able to explore emerging trends and perhaps conduct interviews ect to gain even more research. By conducting it over a longer period of time I could also have included a revisit survey/ interview. For example if I re conducted the survey with the same sample in a years time I would be able to see if there is a pattern occurring. So as the 16 year olds turn 17 have they followed the age group aboves pattern of declining in sport. The extended time also allows the survey to spread further on social media which would mean the participants would be from a wider range of places and different social/economic/ethnic groups. This would make the data more valid.by looking at the different ethnic groups I would be able to link it to some of my prior research in my literacy review. As it would explore if the trend that they found met the ones that I found.


Research Project Appendices

Appendix 1

https://www.sportengland.org/media/39365/understanding-participation-among-15-19-year-old-girls-summary-report.pdf





Appendix 2

http://irs.sagepub.com/content/41/3-4/357.short



Research Project Figures and Tables

Figures and Tables 1

Figures and tables 6

Unit5 research project

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